The parallel import search turned into a perfect match, and the Rockets bet on the right thing! Shepard has undergone three major transformations. He should thank these two people.

From a parallel import search to a perfect match, the Rockets’ patience paid off when they bet on the right thing! Shepard faced three major transformations in one breath, and he should thank these two people.

The Rockets bet on the right thing

On the night of the 2024 draft, the Rockets used the third pick to select Sheppard, who was known as the "next Curry." During the NCAA, he shot 52.1% from three-pointers and seemed to be the perfect starting backcourt candidate for the Rockets.

As a result, Shepard's performance in his rookie season was abysmal, averaging only a pitiful 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, and was therefore dubbed the "parallel import prospect."

But in the past 10 games, Shepard has proven himself strongly. In the past 10 games, Shepard averaged 22.7 minutes per game, averaging 13 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals, with a true shooting percentage of 70% and a total plus-minus value of +90.

During the period, the Rockets won 9 out of 10 games with an impressive performance. At the same time, Sheppard's performance also showed a clear upward trend. In the past 5 games, his average data increased to 16.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals, and his three-point shooting percentage was 52.9%.

Shepard's outstanding performance also made him a perfect partner for Amen in the backcourt. The latter is almost the opposite of Shepard. He has exaggerated athletic talent and top-notch defensive ability, but his three-point shooting is poor and his organizational skills need to be improved. After Van Jordan's absence, Amen struggled to play the core point guard role at the beginning of the season. With Shepard's sudden emergence, Amen's performance also rebounded quickly as he began to play more off the ball.

So why did Shepard complete three major transformations so quickly from the "parallel importer" that everyone laughed at to the perfect partner of Amen? The two of them can be said to have taken the greatest credit.

The first major transformation: soaring three-point ability

Shepard entered the league with the aura of "the next Curry". Three-point shooting has always been his biggest selling point. As a result, in his rookie season, Shepard only averaged 0.9 three-pointers per game, with a shooting percentage as low as 34%.

So far in the new season, Sheppard's average field goal attempts per game has soared to 5.8, and his field goal percentage has also soared to 47.8%, ranking seventh in the league. He averages 2.8 three-pointers per game, ranking first in the Rockets.

With the Rockets ranking at the bottom of the league in three-point attempts and field goals per game, Sheppard's three-point performance qualifies him to appear on the court for a long time and even enter the decisive rotation lineup.

The second major transformation: improvement in defense

Three-point shooting is Sheppard's biggest selling point, and defense is his biggest shortcoming. Suffering from poor basic physical talent, the short Shepard has frequently become the target of opponents on the defensive end.

Especially in the modern NBA where positions are blurred and there are more and more tall point guards, whether it is misplaced defense or one-on-one one-on-one calling, Shepard is the most vulnerable weak link on the Rockets' defensive end.

For this reason, Uduka frequently used zone defense to hide Shepard's weak link. Shepard also gradually found his position under this defensive strategy, allowing him to make great progress in defensive position selection and steals. In the past five games, he averaged 2.4 steals per game.

The third major transformation: the improvement of confidence

Whether it is the accurate three-pointer or the improvement of defense, it is inseparable from the improvement of Shepard's self-confidence. From his rookie season to the beginning of this season, Shepard has been seriously lacking in confidence since he came on the court. Being too afraid of making mistakes has caused him to make continuous mistakes on both ends of the offense and defense.

Fortunately, coach Uduka did not give up on him. Instead, he repeatedly encouraged Shepard publicly. Another player Shepard needed to thank was Durant. When his teammates tried to correct Shepard, Durant was the only one who insisted on keeping Shepard confident.

As Rockets reporter Jackson Gatlin previously said: "Watching Durant continue to encourage Shepard has become a highlight of the Rockets' games this season."